Shadow image clock projecting device



Dec. 13, 1955 H. K. CHANG 2,726,571

SHADOW IMAGE CLOCK PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, 1952 IN V EN TOR.15 54551 ff, (fly/V4 United States Patent SHADOW IMAGE CLOCK PROJECTINGDEVICE Henry K. Chang, NewRochelle, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1952, Serial No. 309,525 1 Claim. (CI. 88-24)This invention relates to clocks and more particularly to clocks whichwill throw enlarged, shadow images of the clock faces on portions of adarkened room.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shadow clockwhich, when illuminated, will throw enlarged images of the clock faceand hands upon a ceiling or upon any spot on the four walls of a room,or even on the floor, as desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shadow clockof the above type which is especially useful to a person lying in bed,who, by means of this clock, can tell time instantly and constantlywithout getting up.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shadow clockof the above type which may be used as a bed-side reading lamp, as anilluminated clock, a night lamp, or an ordinary clock during the day.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a shadow clockbearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is compact,pleasing in appearance, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shadow clock embodying the features ofthe present invention, partly broken away to show the interiorconstruction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view or a modified form of the presentinvention, partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a still further modified form of the present invention showinga perspective view thereof and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of theclock shown in Fig. 3, partly broken away to show the interiorconstruction thereof.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, and in the practice of myinvention, there is shown a shadow clock, referred to collectively as10, consisting of a cylindrical housing 11 containing a clock mechanism,referred to collectively as 12, at one end, substantially asillustrated.

While in the drawing I have shown a hand-wound clock mechanism, it willbe readily understood that any suitable clock, electric or mechanicalmay be used in connection with the present invention.

The portion of the housing 11 containing the clock mechanism 12 isseparated from the rest of the interior thereof by a disc of insulatingmaterial 13 of any suitable type and having a central opening 14 for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

A conical reflector 15 is secured within the housing 11 adjacent thedisc 13 and is similarly provided with a central opening 16 aligned withthe opening 14, and carries bulb sockets 17 and bulbs 18 connected to ahousehold source of power by means of a male plug 1.9 and wire 20, aswitch 21 being connected in series therewith controlling one or bothbulbs.

2,726,571 Patented Dec. '13, 1955 A circular face 22 of translucentplastic or glass or any suitable material is secured within thehousingadjacent the outer rim of the reflector 15 and carries along itsperiphery the usual markings indicating the time, the face 22 beingprovided with a central opening 23 in alignment with the openings Hand14.

The mechanism 12 is conventional except that it carries elongatedhourand minute sleeves extending outwardly therefrom through the alignedopenings 14, 16 and 23 to fixedlycarry at'their ends the usual hour andminute hands 24 and 25, substantially as illustrated.

A first lens '26 is fixedly positioned within the'housing 11 forwardlyof'the face 22, while a second lens 27 is secured within a ring-28movable longitudinally within the end of the housing by means of flanges29. It will be noted that the lens 27 is detachable and adjustable forfocusing.

The housing 11 is r otatably supported by a forked member 30 and sidepins 31 located therein, a knob 32 being provided which permits theclock to rotate and then to hold its position as desired. The base ofthe member 30 is rigidly secured to a supporting shaft 33 carrying aball 34 at its lowerendrotatable in a universal joint 35 integrallyformed in a heavy base member 36, substantially as illustrated.

Access to the portion of the housing 11 above the bulbs and reflector ishad readily through a window, not shown, which may be opened and shut bya sliding door, semi-circular in section, also not shown.

It is obvious that any suitable lighting means may be employed otherthan the bulbs 18 and sockets 17, such as for example fluorescentlighting means or any other lighting system that may in the future bethought to be more effective from the standpoint of securing betterdiffusion and greater brilliancy, and it is not intended to limit theinvention to the particular means shown in the drawing. It is also to beunderstood that the lighting means so employed could be increased inintensity to such an extent that it may permit the invention to be usedas a bedside reading lamp.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, and in the further practice of myinvention, there is shown a modified form of shadow clock 10 differingfrom the first form in the substitution of a curved mirror for thelenses 26 and 27 in a manner to be described below.

A modified housing 11 similar to the housing 11 but terminating slightlybeyond the face 22 in a threaded portion 37 and having a glass 38secured therewithin receives a cylindrical housing 39 having a threadedportion 40, substantially as illustrated. The housing 39 is providedwith a semi-circular cut-out 41 and rotatably mounts a curved mirror 42by means of a hinge 43. A knob, similar to the knob 32, not shown, isprovided to permit rotation of the mirror to various angular positionsand to permit the holding of these positions as desired.

The internal construction of the member 11 is the same as the housing11, containing the mechanism 12, the disc 13, the reflector 15, thebulbs 18 and sockets 17, and the face 22, while the pins 31 andassociated parts may be eliminated, since direction of the shadow imagesis now controlled by the mirror 42 rotating on the hinge 43 by means ofthe knob described above, the images being reflected by the curvedmirror to the ceiling or other portion of the room, as desired.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, and in the further practiceof my invention, there is shown a still further modified shadow clock10" differing from the second form in the arrangement of the mirror .42.

A modified housing 11", now rectangular in shape, but similar in allother respects to the housing 11', containing the mechanism 12, thereflector 15, the bulbs 18 and sockets 17, the disc 13' and the face22', is provided with a bottom compartment 44 adapted to slidablyreceive a longitudinally movable hinge 43' mounted upon a longitudinallyslidable shaft 45 whereby when not in use, the mirror 42 may he slidinto the compartment 44 and out of harms way. A glass 46 is providedwithin the housing 11" adjacent the face 22' and serves to protect thelatter from dirt or the like. The housing 11 may rest upon a table orthe like, direction of the shadow images being controlled by rotatingthe mirror 42 to various angular positions, a knob, not shown, similarto the knob 32 permitting the holding of the various positions asdesired. Or alternately, the hinge 43' may rotate upon the shaft 45 infrictional fit, holding any particular position until rotated furthermanually.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, What isclaimed is:

The combination of shadow clock with a support comprising a housing, aclock-work disposed in the said housing, reflector means arranged withinthe said housing in front of the said clock-work, a translucent clockface disposed in the said housing in front of the said reflector means,the said clock face having hands arranged in front thereof, illuminatingmeans arranged between the said reflector means and the said translucentclock face, and means for focusing the image of the said face and of thesaid hands upon any part of a room, a forked member, means for pivotallysecuring the ends of the said forked member to the said housing, thesaid forked member having a base, a supporting shaft permanently securedto the said base at one end thereof, a ball provided at the other end ofthe said shaft, a heavy supporting member carrying secured thereto auniversal joint, and the latter receiving the said ball of the saidshaft for rotatable connection of the latter in all directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS457,694 Armstrong Aug. 11, 1891 812,105 Wetzler et al. Feb. 6, 1906813,836 Smith Feb. 27, 1906 877,041 Blatter Jan. 21, 1908 1,053,650Saalburg Feb. 18, 1913 1,172,844 Steinberg Feb. 22, 1916 1,913,870Briggs June 13, 1933 2,195,425 Roger Apr. 2, 1940 2,201,376 Prins May21, 1940 2,243,759 Maluo May 27, 1941 2,351,238 Teuber June 13, 1944

